When A/B comparing USB versus LDAC, I can't tell a difference. However, when connected through USB from my Samsung Note 10+, the frequency response is worse than if I use bluetooth. I've never really like the sound signature of Samsung phones and here is no different. My PC doesn't have LDAC...

Balanced out is excellent from the BTR5 to the P1 (through my silver cable). It's been the best pairing to my ears out of almost all of my portable options. Single ended, not so much. It's still a good sound, but the extra power from the balanced output pushes everything up several notches. The...

Right, the balanced output on the BTR5 pumps out 220mW, whereas the 3.5mm Jack only offers 80mW. That's the only reason the balanced is pertinent in this case. Planars are thirsty like that.

I've had the Tin P1 planar IEMs for a few months and enjoyed them plenty, but not enough to stop me from ordering the Tin T4's out of curiosity. In the interim, I got the FiiO BTR5 to go with it and my many other IEMs and pair my Note X+. At first, the BTR5 didn't have enough power for the...

The veil I refer to only occurs when using the headphone jack or USB on my Samsung phones. I think it's the way Samsung processes music, but I don't hear it any other times I use my phones as a transport. It's why I started using bluetooth headphones years ago with my Note 5 or S8. Hopefully now...

@Devodonaldson @salla45 My listening for initial impressions was all done over bluetooth using my Samsung Note 10+ as a transport streaming via the Tidal app playing HIFI and master quality songs. I have long since enabled developer options on my phone and regularly adjust the bluetooth audio...

I've been listening to the BTR5 for a couple days, doing some direct comparisons and settling in for normal listening. My use case will be pairing with my 3.5mm jack-less Note 10+. My previous Samsung phones all had subpar sound quality from the headphones jack anyway. With LDAC the sound...

Offline mode works fine.

I can't get my Explorer to connect to wifi with a password. It finds the connection, but it won't authenticate. If I turn off the security, it works fine. I've tried WEP and WPA, but no go.

You'll just have to upgrade to the RS-1e's, then.

I've listened to the Echobox Explorer with my Grado GH1/G and the Finders. They both seem to have decent synergy. I'm pleasantly surprised by the sound right out of the box, but that's a low bar. As long as a piece of gear doesn't actively sound bad and is able to bring out new aspects to the...

It's a standard size stem. I swapped in Shure tips for a while, when I had those IEMs.   The barb on the Audiofly's stem never caused a problem, but I settled on Comply tips pretty quick and stuck with them most of the time.

I've used and abused Audiofly gear for years now and all three of my AF headphones still function flawlessly. The only wear is some slight thread loosening from the cable sheath, where the connectors are.   My AF240's are my go-to portable headphone and I carry them without the canvas bag much...

OH, SHHHHH!!!!   That's my Echobox!   The lyric is from:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHAHgjL0YzQ

Mine developed a buzz when I combined it with my turntable , but only after I moved. It didn't matter which outlets I used, the noise floor would be way too high.   I tracked it down to the wall wart and the passport. There's no noise when it runs off battery, but it returns when I plug it...

I've been having charging issues with my AK380. I've had it plugged in for a couple days and it's only at 50%. I tried using the dock plugged into a USB3 on my computer overnight, but the battery level was lower.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable IEM. Enjoy them!

The Telefunken and Cifte tubes are my go-to.

I haven't seen any PanAm stuff on http://warehousedeals.aloaudio.com/all-products in a while.   I've only ever used the PanAm with the Passport, so I don't see any reason you should have to worry too much about it. I did, however, snag a second Passport the last time it went on sale, though.

There's no hard and fast rules about how much you should spend on this versus that. Later on, you can worry more about synergies and how well your particular gear matches. For now, an amp with enough power to run your chosen headphone to a loud enough volume should be sufficient.   I've always...

The 650's do need an amp and they perform better with higher quality amps. Although quality increases with price tags, it's not an even ratio. Diminishing returns set in quickly, so spending twice as much will not get you something twice as good.   To answer your main question, a DAC is always...

This is what my AF180's look like now. The outer shell around the connector has been trimmed down. On a stock model, there are two raised spots on either side that will prevent third party cables from seating properly.  

@Gilly87    Does the Echobox have ALSA incorporated in the OS?   I'd like to be able to use it with the ALO Continental Dual Mono, which uses ALSA for its DAC. At one point I could connect my android phone to that amp with a OTG cable, but the phone lost that ability somehow.

The housing on the Audiofly IEMs have those two bumps on the connector end. The bumps are the same plastic as the shell and are designed to keep the stock cable from rotating.     You can snap the tabs off or file them down with a nail file (be sure to blow out any filings after) and your...

So I've joined the Continental Club with a red CDM (and tan Black Star bag).   I've been switching back and forth between my AK380 and my PC and I can't really tell a difference with my custom Laylas. I'm using the balanced output on the AK and USB and A/B testing with the input switch. (I've...